Responsive & Responsible Web Design in DNN

Responsive
and

Responsible

web design
in

DNN

KNOW What A Responsive
WebSITE is
A ﬂuid layout and ﬂexible images adapted
with media queries

MISUSe the TERM
Responsive

vs.

Adaptive

A fluid grid layout

Multiple fixed width
layouts

Additional changes
applied with Media
Queries

Layout changes at set
breakpoints
(with Media Queries)

LIMIT MOBILE CONTENT
Mobile users are not just “on the go”
Many people have mobile devices as their
primary internet access
The lines between mobile/tablet/desktop
are becoming blurred
Alternative to native mobile apps

Prioritize Content
Do a content audit and prioritization before
any layout or design

Think “mobile first”
... but you don’t HAVE to develop mobile ﬁrst

Consider:
If it isn’t needed on mobile, is it even
needed on desktop???

USE HTML wireframes
http://foundation.zurb.com

Example

expect pixel-perfect
matching code

Design with dev in mind
Pay attention to order and ﬂow
Limit large or complex graphics
Know what CSS can do

Create a style Guide
•

Show available design elements

•

Code modular HTML/CSS building blocks

•

Include baseline typography, UI elements
(buttons, form constructs, etc)

•

Easier to test and improve workﬂow between
multiple team members

24ways.org/2011/front-end-style-guides
Front end styleguide collection: bit.ly/IR3lHF

Use a fluid grid
<div class=”row”>
<div id="ContentPane" runat="server"
class=”col two-third” />
<div id="SmallRightPane" runat="server"
class=”col third” />
</div>
<div class=”row”>
<div id="LeftPane" runat="server"
class=”col half” />
<div id="RightPane" runat="server"
class=”col half” />
</div>

Use a fluid grid
.half {
.third {
.two-third {
.fourth {
.three-fourth{
.fifth {
.two-fifth {
.three-fifth {
.four-fifth {
.col {

width: 50%; }
width: 33.333333333333%;}
width: 66.66666666667%;}
width: 25%; }
width: 75%; }
width: 20%; }
width: 40%; }
width: 60%; }
width: 80%; }
padding: 10px;
float: left;
box-sizing: border-box; }

Use the new box model
Standard box model:

New box model:

Padding & border
added on to the
width/height

Padding & border
subtracted from
width/height

box-sizing:
border-box

box-sizing:
border-box

Set fixed-width spacing
#LeftColumn {
padding: 10px 20px;!
-moz-box-sizing:border-box;
-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;!
box-sizing:border-box; }
#RightColumn {
padding: 10px;!
-moz-box-sizing:border-box;
-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;!
box-sizing:border-box;
border: 1px solid #627A7E; }
IE Polyﬁll: (Natively supported in IE8+)
https://github.com/Schepp/box-sizing-polyﬁll

DO a lot of math
Widths set with percentage are relative to
their container element

Keep it simple
#ContentLeft {
float: left;
width: 60%;
padding-right: 40px;
#ContentRight {
float: left;
width: 40%;

use media queries
Media queries serve different CSS based on
your browser size or type.
In your Skin CSS ﬁle, deﬁne regular (desktop)
styles, then:
•
•
•
•

@media
@media
@media
@media

(max-width:
(max-width:
(max-width:
(max-width:

900px)
720px)
480px)
320px)

{
{
{
{

}
}
}
}

use media queries
Or, go “mobile ﬁrst”:
• @media (min-width: 480px) {
• @media (min-width: 720px) {
• Etc…
Better for performance!

}
}

USE pre-determined,
Specific breakpoints
Set breakpoints when you need them!

use browser fallbacks
@media only works in IE 9 +
• Javascript polyﬁll for IE 8 and below:
– https://github.com/scottjehl/Respond
– Adds support for media queries set with
min-width/max-width

• For wider media query support:
– http://code.google.com/p/css3-mediaqueries-js

• Or use conditional comments to link to IE CSS

set font sizes with rem’s
• html { font-size: 62.5%; }
• body { font-size:
font-size:
{ font-size:
• h1
font-size:

14px;
1.4rem; }
24px;
2.4rem; }

• Can change body size % in @media to
adjust all site fonts

create scalable headlines
Fittextjs.com: for text headlines that dynamically
ﬁt the width of its surrounding element.

USE ICON FONTS
Always crisp, no pixelization or multiple
image sizes needed
Easily change size, color, and shadows
using CSS

IcoMoon.io

Pictos.cc

MORE
(css-tricks.com/ﬂat-icons-icon-fonts)

Set media max-widths
Ensure media does not break outside of set
container:
• img, object, embed, iframe, video
{ max-width:100%; }

set inline media sizes
Do not set height or width of images or
media in the DNN editor
Do not upload media larger than the
maximum size that you want it to display

create scalable video
Fitvidsjs.com: for ﬂuid width video embeds

OVERuse display:none
display:none
• Hide unnecessary content for mobile
• Add mobile only content with
display:none in the regular CSS
Use Sparingly!

Don’t limit content

OVERuse display:none
Important Note:
display:none hides content but
(generally) does not improve performance!
Hiding images:
Setting parent element to display:none
will prevent the image from being loaded.

Use menus that use
unordered lists
Menu modules that use unordered lists can be made
responsive
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href="/”>Home</a></li>
<li><a href="/About.aspx">About</a>
<ul>
<li><a href=”/About/Bio.aspx”>Bio</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/Speaking.aspx">Speaking</a></li>
<li><a href="/Contact.aspx">Contact</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>

Choose responsive menu
strategy carefully
OPTIONS:
Resize & Reposition
Switch Horizontal to Vertical
Dropdown (Select) Menu
Toggle Menu Button
Left Slideout Menu

1. RESIZE & REposition (aka “do NOTHING”)

1. RESIZE & REposition
What a horizontal unordered list will naturally
do
Can hide submenu dropdowns (If accessible
elsewhere)
• nav ul li ul { display:none; }
Use media queries to shrink fonts and
margins before, or to avoid, breaking to
multiple lines

Tutorial: http://designshack.net/articles/css/
code-a-responsive-navigation-menu

When to use it?
Submenus don’t need to be accessed
Items will ﬁt on one or two lines
Items not expected to change often
A solution without Javascript is desired
Minimal effort desired

2. Switch horizontal to vertical

Regular CSS:
• nav ul li { float:left; }
Mobile-size CSS:
• @media (max-width: 480px) {
nav ul li { float:none; !!
!
width:100%; }
}

Can hide submenu dropdowns (If accessible
elsewhere)
• nav ul li ul { display:none; }

Tutorial to include dropdown submenus:
http://ejhansel.com/a-responsive-drop-down-navigation-menu

• Based on Suckerﬁsh dropdowns
• Uses :hover to expand submenus

When to use it?
Few main menu items
Longer page names
Can choose whether to include submenus
A solution without Javascript is desired
Minimal effort desired

3. dropdown (select) menu
Uses efﬁcient native mobile controls
Use jQuery to dynamically swap:
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href=“#”>…</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
-to<nav>
<select>
<option value=“#”>…</option>
</select>
</nav>

From: http://css-tricks.com/convert-menu-to-dropdown

Similar options that switch <ul> to <select>:
• TinyNav.js:
– Uses jQuery, small ﬁle size
– https://github.com/viljamis/TinyNav.js

• Responsive Menu:
– Uses jQuery, supports submenus, lots of settings
– https://github.com/mattkersley/Responsive-Menu

• SelectNav.js:
– Inspired by TinyNav, Independent (no jQuery),
supports submenus
– http://lukaszﬁszer.github.com/selectnav.js

When to use it?
Want mobile menu to ﬁt in a small area
Want native controls for the mobile menu
More menu items and/or longer page names
Want submenus included
Ok with Javascript solution

4. Toggle menu button
Similar to switching a horizontal menu
to vertical, with the addition of hiding
the menu until clicked/touched
The markup:
<nav>! !
!
<a href="#" class=”
show-mobile">Main Menu</a>!
<ul><li>…</li></ul>!
</nav>

Regular CSS:
.show-mobile { display: none; }
CSS to show the button and hide the menu for mobile:
@media (max-width: 768px) {! !
nav .show-mobile {
display: block; }
nav ul {!
display: none; }
}
jQuery for the menu toggle:
<script>! !
jQuery(".show-mobile").click(function () {
jQuery("nav ul").toggle("fast");!
});
<script>

An in-depth, mobile-ﬁrst menu tutorial:
• http://azadcreative.com/2012/07/
responsive-mobile-ﬁrst-navigation-menu
• Uses a mobile menu button toggle, and
includes submenus expanding on click

When to use it?
Want a highly stylable, ﬂexible option
Can choose whether to include submenus
Ok with Javascript solution

5. Left slideout Menu
Tutorials:
• jPanelMenu - jQuery plugin:
jpanelmenu.com
• PageSlide - jQuery plugin:
srobbin.com/jquery-plugins/pageslide
• CSS-only solution:
css-tricks.com/off-canvas-menu-with-css-target

5. Left slideout Menu
When to use it?
Want a sleek mobile menu option
Ok with more advanced coding
Ok with Javascript (or CSS with limited browser support)

remember the viewport
Ensure mobile browsers will scale to view
your site correctly
Include in the <head> :
<meta name="viewport"
content="width=device-width”>

CHoose modules wisely
Choose modules that are have template
systems and easy-to-modify layouts.
Download demos and test
Avoid modules that use table layouts, inline
styling, and lack stylable classes and IDs
Expect to customize module layouts and
allow time for testing

Resources
• Responsive Web Design (A Book Apart 4):
Ethan Marcotte
• Implementing Responsive Design:
Tim Kadlec
• This is Responsive: Patterns, resources, news
http://bradfrost.github.io/this-is-responsive/
• http://bdconf.com/newsletter
• MediaQueri.es

Questions?
Amelia Marschall-Miller
Gravity Works Design + Development
Partner & Creative Director

GravityWorksDesign.com
AmeliaMarschall.com
@MimiAmelia

Responsive & Responsible Web Design in DNN

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